Australia target return to No.1 rank: Clarke

Australian captain, Michael Clarke has exuded confidence that his team can fight its way back to the coveted No. 1 Test ranking. In what is expected to be a gruelling summer, Australia host Tests against South Africa and Sri Lanka, they then visit India for four Tests before playing England in 10 Tests during a busy Ashes season.

Currently ranked No. 3, Australia begin their season with the 1st Test against South Africa which starts on October, 9 at the Gabba, Brisbane.

"I make no bones about the Australian team getting back on top," Clarke said during the official launch of the Australian cricketing summer in Sydney on Monday.

"It's a really exciting 12-15 months, as big a time that I will have in my career. I can guarantee you it certainly won't be lack of work ethic that lets the Australian cricket team down."

Clarke expects his team to build on the foundations that were laid when the Indians visited them last summer. Australia whitewashed India 4-0 as they showed clear signs of revival. The period also saw the emergence of a fresh crop of talent in the form of David Warner, Pat Cummins, James Pattinson and Mitchell Starc.

"It is a really exciting time for this young side. We started well against India and we want to build on that," Clarke said.

For the first time ever, the Ashes will be played on a back to back basis in order to avoid a clash with the 2015 World Cup set to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

But Clarke refused to drawn into thinking about that series at the moment. "We have some really tough opposition in South Africa, the number one side in Test cricket, coming to Australia very soon and our main focus is on that," he said.

"England is always a tough series over there, the Ashes away and the Ashes at home, a very exciting 15 months.

"South Africa are as good a team as there is in the world. They are not only strong with the ball but they have a lot of batting. It is really important for us to stay focused on them and not to look too far forward."